The Department of Veterans Affairs announced expanded eligibility criteria for its Specially Adapted Housing grant program, now explicitly covering mold remediation costs for veterans whose primary residences sustained flood or water damage.
The policy change affects an estimated 45,000 veterans in flood-prone regions across the Gulf Coast, Southeast, and Midwest. VA officials cited mounting evidence linking mold exposure to respiratory complications in veterans with service-connected pulmonary conditions.
"Veterans who served this country should not have to choose between their health and their home," said VA Secretary Denis McDonough in a statement. "This expansion ensures that mold remediation — a critical component of safe housing — is covered under our existing grant programs."
The grants, which can reach up to $109,986 for severely disabled veterans, may now be used to hire IICRC-certified remediation contractors. The VA is partnering with the Restoration Industry Association to develop a preferred contractor registry.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Read the original report.